May 21, 2008

Hotspot Connections

Another reader asks: I'm an avid wireless user, but I've been having trouble getting connected to the Internet when I go to a free WiFi hotspot. Do you have any idea what I might be doing wrong?

If you use wireless Internet in your home, you may think it's the easiest thing in the world. I mean, after you get everything connected and hooked up, it's so easy to obtain Internet access. You don't have to worry about any cords, you hardly ever lose connections and it just makes your computer life simple. So, you have mastered using wireless in your house and you think you might as well try it outside of your home too. You go down to the local coffee shop, which is a free WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) hotspot. You turn on your computer and everything is fine until you realize you can't get connected to the Internet. What could possibly be wrong?

Well, there is a difference between home wireless use and public hotspot use. Even if your WiFi card shows that you're attached to an access point, you still might not be connected to the Internet and all you will receive are the dreaded "Page Cannot Be Found" messages.

The viagra patent main thing you should remember when you go to a public hotspot (free or paid) is to open up a new browser window before you do anything. Do it before you open up your e-mail, a chat program or any other Internet functions. The browser window you open will usually have a log in screen (or something similar) so that you can get connected to the Web.

By doing things that way, paid hotspots are able to collect the fee information they need and free places are able to put up their information and disclaimer screens. The process really only takes a couple seconds and it will save you time for the next time you go to that same hotspot. Most of them have you set up an account with a username and password so that you can just log in easily the next time you visit.

You may be wondering what you're supposed to do if the above process still doesn't work. What if you do everything and you still don't get a log in screen? Well, there are a couple of things you can check. Make sure you have your browser homepage set to something. Don't just have it set to a blank page. If it's blank, it won't be able to trigger the needed port opening. You also need to make sure you have the updated Service Packs (at least SP2 for Windows XP). One final thing that may be causing you problems: you might just be too far away from the access point. If you're too far, your signal may be too weak to catch a connection. So, just move a little closer!

If you follow the steps and procedures of the hotspots you like to visit, you will no longer have wireless blues!

Permalink • Print • Comment

Just Give It a Nudge

When working in MS PowerPoint, are you frequently frustrated when you try to move objects just a wee little bit?

I mean, you're only trying to nudge the text box or graphic a small amount, but every time you try to drag and drop it with the mouse, it just goes too far.

A solution for that predicament certainly would come in handy, wouldn't it?!

Fortunately, I've got one that's easy to use and remember!

First, select the object to be moved. (If it's a text box, be sure you have just the text box itself selected and make sure the cursor isn't inside the text box for editing).

Ready to move? Good! It goes quick, so pay attention.

Simply tap an arrow key to move the selected object just a nudge in any of the four directions.

Also, as a bonus, I found that holding down the Ctrl key while using an arrow key makes the nudge even smaller.

That's all there is to it!

With the object selected, one press of an arrow key moves it just the tiniest amount. Talk about fine tuning!

Have a large distance to cover?

viagra patent expiration date

Don't worry! You can use this tip for that too.

Instead of a quick tap, hold down the arrow key. You'll find that your object zips around the slide as though it had on running shoes!

Permalink • Print • Comment
« Previous Page
Made with WordPress and an easy to customize WordPress theme • Sky Gold skin by Denis de Bernardy